Madison - A Republican bill to rework Wisconsin's mining regulations comes up before the state senate today.Republicans control the senate, making passage all but certain. The state Assembly is expected to take up the bill next week. Republicans control that house as well. Approval there will send the bill to Governor Scott Walker for his signature.
The bill is designed to ease the regulatory path for a giant iron mine south of Lake Superior in Iron and Ashland counties. Republicans maintain the mine would create hundreds of jobs. Democrats and environmentalists say the bill is a corporate give-away, and that the mine could pollute the pristine region.(Copyright 2013 Associated Press - All Rights Reserved)